Pablo Fornals rejects option to extend West Ham United contract, could leave for free in 2024
Pablo Fornals has turned down the opportunity to extend his West Ham contract and could leave for free in the summer of 2024, according to WestHamFootball.
Writing on his personal Twitter account (14 September), 6foot2 editor Sean Whetstone reports that the Spanish playmaker has decided not to take up the option in his contract that would extend his stay until 2025.
Unless he finds an agreement for a new deal before then, Fornals would now be allowed to leave for free in the summer with La Liga side Sevilla interested in sealing a pre-contract agreement deal in January for his arrival next year.
“Hammer Pablo Fornals has decided not to take up a unilateral option to extend his contract at West Ham, nor has he agreed to sign a new contract meaning he will be free to leave next summer,” they wrote.
“Fornals signed a five-year contract in 2019 which will expire next June. He cost the Hammers £24m with up to £6m add-ons. Fornals has made 184 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions.”
Shame
Fornals has lost his place as a regular starter in the West Ham side over the last 12 months after the arrival of Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse and most recently Mohammed Kudus.
But he still managed to play a key part in our historic season last year with his excellent goal against AZ Alkmaar that took us into the Europa Conference League final.
He is a trusted part of the squad and someone who David Moyes brings on in most games, but also can trust to start when players are unavailable for whatever reason or if the boss wants to freshen things up.
It’s no surprise that as he enters the prime years of his career he could look to move on to play more regularly and at Sevilla he would be getting Champions League football and competing for Europe on a regular basis too.
It would be sad to see him go but no fan would begrudge him the chance, although it would be great if he signed a new deal so we could get some cash for him rather than losing him for free if he has to leave.
In other West Ham news, fresh Lingard twist drops as ‘Insiders’ hint at final Moyes decision.